A Review on the Research Progress of Zeolite Catalysts for Heavy Oil Cracking

The efficient utilization of heavy oil is of great significance to alleviating the global energy crisis. How to efficiently convert heavy oil into high-value-added light fuel oil has become a hot issue in the field of petrochemicals. As the residual part of crude oil processing, heavy oil has a complex composition and contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, long-chain alkanes, and heteroatom compounds, which makes it difficult to process directly. Zeolite, as an important type of solid acid catalyst, has a unique pore structure, adjustable acidity, and good thermal stability. It can promote the efficient cracking and conversion of heavy oil molecules, reduce coke formation, and improve the yield and quality of light oil products. This paper systematically reviews the development status of heavy oil cracking technology, focusing on the structural characteristics, acidity regulation of zeolite catalysts, and their applications in heavy oil cracking and hydrocracking. The mechanism of the cracking reaction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and long-chain alkanes is analyzed in detail, and the catalytic characteristics and modification methods of zeolite in the reaction process are explained. In addition, this paper summarizes the main challenges faced by zeolite catalysts in practical applications, including uneven acidity distribution, limited pore diffusion, and easy catalyst deactivation, and proposes targeted development strategies. Finally, this paper looks forward to the future development direction of zeolite catalysts in the field of heavy oil cracking and upgrading reactions, emphasizes the importance of structural optimization and multi-scale characterization, and provides theoretical support and practical reference for the design and industrial application of efficient zeolite catalysts.